Mobile for Development Blog

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Enhancing commercial sustainability of assistive tech solutions through business-to-business models

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Digital assistive technologies (AT) are a gateway for persons with disabilities to access life-enhancing services and opportunities that can enable them to live more independent and autonomous lives. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), nearly half (around 43%) of ...

Enseignements tirés d’Orange Sierra Leone : Approches pour la mise en œuvre d’un programme de formation aux compétences numériques basé sur des agents et couronné de succès

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This blog is available in English here. Selon les chiffres de la GSMA, en 2022, seulement 21,5 % de la population de la Sierra Leone utilisait l’internet mobile. Les données de la GSMA soulignent que, dans les pays à faible revenu et à revenu intermédiaire, parmi les ...

Insights from Orange Sierra Leone: Approaches for implementing a successful agent-based digital skills training programme 

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Ce blog est disponible en français ici. According to GSMA data, in 2022, only 21.5% of the population in Sierra Leone was using mobile internet. GSMA data highlights that across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) among mobile users aware of mobile internet, a lack of ...

Empowering governments to design effective handset subsidy programmes with the GSMA’s new toolkit

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The affordability of internet-enabled handsets is a major barrier to mobile ownership and internet use in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Handset subsidies are one way for governments to provide direct support to increase handset ownership, particularly among ...

Slowdown in mobile internet connectivity calls for urgent action

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Over the past few years global shocks, including the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, conflicts and the ongoing cost of living crisis have reinforced the importance of access to mobile internet. Mobile phones have enabled people to mitigate some of the negative impacts of ...

Four considerations for implementing PAYG models in LMICs: Lessons from the GSMA Innovation Fund

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Affordability of internet-enabled handsets consistently presents as a key barrier to mobile internet adoption in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs)1. Increasingly, innovative finance schemes and payment models are being developed to make devices more affordable and ...

The impact of mobile broadband coverage on poverty in Tanzania

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The impact of mobile broadband coverage on poverty in Tanzania  Does being able to access mobile internet reduce poverty in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)? To answer this question, the GSMA partnered with the World Bank on an innovative study in Tanzania. We ...

Using the Mobile Connectivity Index to drive digital inclusion  

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A data-led approach to policymaking is key to successfully expanding digital inclusion. The GSMA’s Mobile Connectivity Index (MCI) provides governments with the data required to make informed, evidence-driven policy decisions that can impact digital inclusion. The MCI ...

Four ways to drive adoption and usage of mobile-enabled services among underserved women: Lessons from the GSMA Innovation Fund

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3.2 billion of the unconnected population worldwide live within the footprint of a mobile broadband network but are not using mobile internet – the vast majority of them live in low- and-middle-income countries (LMICs). This usage gap is more pronounced among women, who are ...

New insights on mobile internet connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa

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Since 2014, the progress in connectivity in Sub-Saharan Africa has been substantial. By the end of 2021, 22% of the total population in Sub-Saharan Africa was using mobile internet (and 40% of adults over 18 years of age). Despite being the region with the largest gaps in ...

Making internet-enabled handsets more affordable

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At the end of 2021, there were 3.2 billion people living in areas with mobile broadband coverage but not using mobile internet. This is equivalent to 40% of the global population who are missing out on access to information and services, and all the benefits that internet ...

Making Sign Language Interpretation accessible for all through mobile assistive technology

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According to the World Federation of the Deaf (WFD), there are more than 70 million Deaf people worldwide and more than 80% of them live in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). The Deaf are particularly excluded because they cannot communicate with the hearing ...

ITC and the GSMA launch new Broadband Commission Working Group to drive digital inclusion of MSMEs

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The International Trade Centre (ITC) and the GSMA launched a new Working Group on the digital inclusion of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in low- and middle-income countries. The initiative was announced at the Broadband Commission for Sustainable ...

Too many are still offline: Global figures mask regional and demographic disparities

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There are two ways people can be ‘unconnected’; either they live in an area not covered by mobile broadband, or they live in an area that is covered but do not use mobile internet. Usage gap: refers to those who live within the footprint of ...

How do free data bundles affect new mobile internet users?

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Mobile internet provides invaluable access to a number of resources including information, learning opportunities, business development, communication and entertainment. Despite these benefits, non-data users can be hesitant to spend their limited financial resources on a ...

The role of mobile coverage data in integrated energy planning: The case of the Democratic Republic of Congo

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The rise of integrated energy planning in low- and middle-income countries Data-driven integrated energy planning strategies have become a critical tool in coordinating and accelerating investments in energy access. These strategies also serve as a foundation for ...

Mobile Digital Skills Alliance: Practical considerations for implementing mobile digital skills programmes

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The Mobile Digital Skills Alliance is a network of organisations, companies and academics dedicated to generating and sharing knowledge, disseminating best practices and fostering collaboration to improve mobile digital skills across low- and middle-income countries and ...

The digital inclusion of persons with disabilities: Key learnings from our recent disability inclusive research

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Data on the digital inclusion of persons with disabilities in low and middle-income countries (LMICs) is often scarce and unreliable. The GSMA Assistive Tech programme has been working to address this gap, specifically focusing on understanding access and use of mobile ...

Digital Inclusion at MWC Barcelona 2022

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MWC Barcelona and 4YFN 2022 kicks off on Monday 28 February and runs until Thursday 3 March. When you’re at MWC in person, you very quickly realise that it really is the world’s largest and most influential connectivity event. The impressive exhibits and conference agenda ...

Making mobile internet more accessible for people with reading or writing difficulties

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Across low- and middle- income countries (LMICs), 3.4 billion people are still not accessing mobile internet despite living within the footprint of a mobile broadband network[1]. According to the latest GSMA Consumer Survey, for people who are aware of mobile internet, ...